Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Houston firefighter Jeff Taylor lives to save others, while advertising executive Lisa Matheson is trying to save her struggling business, but when their worlds collide, they must confront both external danger and the internal battles of faith and love.

Courage and Love

In times of uncertainty, we often look to those who face danger head-on—like firefighters or first responders—as examples of bravery and selflessness. According to statistics, firefighters in Australia respond to over 300,000 incidents annually, risking their lives to protect others. But what happens when the weight of this courage intertwines with the vulnerability of personal relationships? Staci Stallings’ To Protect & Serve introduces readers to this reality, where life on the frontlines of firefighting meets the quiet, persistent struggles of everyday life, and where love may be the most challenging and rewarding risk of all.

Jeff Taylor is a man who rushes into danger without hesitation, driven by an unrelenting desire to protect others. Lisa Matheson, on the other hand, is caught in the fires of her own life, battling the pressures of running an ad agency that’s barely holding together. Their paths cross unexpectedly when Lisa needs speakers for a conference, and Jeff becomes the focus of her attention—both professionally and personally. As sparks fly between them, Lisa discovers that Jeff’s courage is as much a blessing as it is a burden. His seeming “death wish” on the job leaves her questioning whether she can handle falling for a man who risks his life daily, and Jeff must come to terms with the balance between his duty to others and his growing feelings for Lisa.

At its core, To Protect & Serve is a beautiful exploration of love, courage, and faith. Through the challenges Jeff and Lisa face, the novel gently touches on the struggles many people experience when trying to reconcile faith in a higher plan with the unpredictable dangers of life. Stallings writes with compassion, portraying characters who are deeply flawed but still striving for goodness. Through their journey, readers are reminded that while love can be risky, it can also provide the strength to persevere, much like faith in something greater than ourselves.

Like a flame that flickers even in the strongest wind, this story radiates a steady warmth, showing that true courage lies not only in facing physical danger but also in opening one’s heart to love.

Content Sensitivity: This book deals with themes of danger and trauma related to firefighting.